Support Bracket for Mounting an End of a Roller Blind

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a support bracket for mounting an end of a roller blind. The support bracket includes an angular bracket having a flat wall with a blind mounting element for receiving and supporting the end of the blind. A detachable support member is mounted to the flat wall, the detachable support member being configured to temporarily support the end of the blind at a position adjacent the roller blind mounting element. The detachable support member includes an elongated member having opposite first and second hooked ends, each of which is configured to hook to an aperture formed on the flat wall. A saddle portion is formed on the support member between the hooked ends. The saddle portion is movable between a locked position wherein the ends cannot be removed from the apertures and an unlocked position wherein the ends are easily removed from the apertures.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/314,888 dated Mar. 17, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to support brackets for supporting a roller blind window cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It will be appreciated that roller type window blinds, particularly window blinds used to cover large windows as found in commercial offices, require long roller tubes. The length of the tubes must be sufficient to span the entire width of the window. Each end of the roller blind is provided with an end which projects away from the roller tube (a finger) and which provides an attachment point for a support bracket. The support bracket mounts the roller blind by attaching to and supporting the ends of the blind by mounting to the fingers. The support brackets are generally secured to a wall or window frame adjacent the window at the uppermost part of the window on opposite sides of the window. The roller blind is then mounted to the support brackets. Generally, each roller blind is provided with a clutch end at one end of the roller tube and an idle end at the opposite end of the roller tube. In the case of very long roller blinds composed of two or more roller tube sections, an intermediate end my be positioned at one or both ends of the roller tube sections. The clutch end, idle end and intermediate end all include a projection or finger which is dimensioned to be received in a corresponding aperture in the support bracket. The idle end portion of the roller blind may have a retractable feature allowing the projecting finger to temporarily retract into the idle end in order to make it easier to mount the blind to the support brackets. Mounting the roller tubes to the support brackets can be an awkward task if the roller blind is very long; however, the present invention makes it possible for only one person to do the job.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support bracket for mounting an end of a roller blind. The support bracket includes an angular bracket having a flat wall with a blind mounting element for receiving and supporting the end of the blind. A detachable support member is mounted to the flat wall, the detachable support member being configured to temporarily support the end of the blind at a position adjacent the roller blind mounting element.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket made in accordance with the present invention showing the temporary support member attached thereto and showing a roller blind temporarily mounted to temporary support member.

FIG. 2 is a close up of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the idle end portion of a roller blind which is temporarily mounted by the bracket shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the detachable support member portion of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the detachable support member shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket made in accordance with the present invention showing the temporary support member in its unlocked position.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support bracket made in accordance with the present invention is shown generally as item 10 and consists of an angular metal bracket 12 having mounting apertures 14 for allowing the bracket to be mounted to a wall or window frame 11 via screws or nails (not shown). Bracket 12 includes a flat wall 13 having a central blind mounting element 15, usually an aperture of some sort, which is dimensioned and configured to mount to finger 24 of idle end 26 of blind 25. Finger 24 may have a circular or rectangular profile and mounting element 15 consists of an aperture which is either circular or rectangular (as the case may be) and which is dimensioned to fit finger 24. In the case where finger 24 is rectangular, bracket 12 acts not only to support idle end 26 but also to prevent a portion of the idle end (to which finger 24 is attached) from rotating. In other cases, mounting element 15 is a round aperture and is intended only to support idle end 26, not prevent a portion of the idle end from rotating.

Bracket 12 further includes a plurality of smaller apertures 16 positioned around mounting element 15 on flat wall 13. Preferably there are four apertures 16 equally spaced around mounting element 15. Apertures 16 are each dimensioned to receive ends 20 and 21 of detachable support member 18. As better seen in FIG. 3, detachable support member 18 is a generally U shaped metal member having hooks 24 and 26 formed on opposite ends 20 and 21. As better seen in FIG. 4, each of the hooked ends is Z shaped so that the hook can be easily inserted and removed from the mounting bracket A central saddle portion 22 is formed on detachable support member 18 between opposite ends 20 and 21. Preferably, detachable support member 18 is made of a rigid and strong metal wire.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, ends 20 and 21 can be inserted into apertures 16 of mounting bracket 12 such that the support member can be securely mounted to the mounting bracket. With support member 18 thus mounted to mounting bracket 12, finger portion 24 of idle end 26 can be inserted into saddle portion 22 of the safety harness so that the idle end can essentially hang from mounting bracket 12 via the safety harness. Support member 18 is movable between a substantially vertical locked position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the support member is approximately perpendicular to flat wall 13 of bracket 12. When support member 18 is in its locked position, hooked ends 21 and 20 prevent the support member from being removed from apertures 16. When support member 18 is in its unlocked position (as seen in FIG. 5), ends 20 and 21 can easily be removed from apertures 16 permitting the support member to be easily mounted to or removed from bracket 12. When support member 18 is in its locked position, the support member depends down from bracket 12 so that finger 24 of idle end 26 can be temporarily mounted to the support member.

In use, mounting brackets 12 are first mounted to the wall, ceiling or window frame (not shown). Then, support bracket 18 is mounted to the mounting bracket as shown in FIG. 1. The roller blind 25 can then be mounted to the mounting bracket. To aid the worker in mounting the roller blind, the end of the roller blind having idle end 26 is first lifted towards mounting bracket 12. The idle end of the roller blind can then be temporarily supported by mounting bracket 12 by placing finger 24 in saddle portion 22 of safety harness 18. The worker can then lift the opposite end (e.g. the clutch end) of the roller blind and secure it to the mounting bracket on the other side of the window. After the clutch end of the roller blind is securely mounted to the support bracket the worker can return to the idle end of the blind and attach finger 24 to mounting element 15. The worker can then remove safety harness 18 from the support bracket.

Referring now to FIG. 5, safety harness 18 can be mounted to bracket 12 simply by inserting ends 20 and 21 into aperture pairs 16 a or 16 b. Since apertures 16 a and 16 b are positioned equal distance around mounting element 15, safety harness 18 can be used whether bracket 12 is mounted to a ceiling or to a wall. If bracket 12 is to be mounted to a ceiling (or to the top of a window frame), then ends 20 and 21 of the safety harness 18 are inserted into apertures 16 a as shown in FIG. 5. However, if bracket 12 is to be mounted to a wall, the bracket will be oriented 90° from what is shown in FIG. 5, in which case the mounting bracket could be mounted to the bracket by attaching one of ends 20/21 into aperture 16 a and the other of ends 20/21 into aperture 16 b. Safety harness 18 can then be removed after the roller blind is installed by simply pulling out the safety harness.

It will be appreciated that mounting bracket 12 can also be used to support either the clutch end of the blind or an intermediate end of a multi-band window blind. All that is required is that the end of the blind have a projecting finger similar to finger 24. Clutches as used in roller blinds are provided with such a finger structure, as are the intermediate ends of multi-banded window blinds. Hence, while the invention has been described with reference to an idle end, it will be appreciated that the invention can be used in the same manner with either end of the window blind.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims 

1. A support bracket for mounting an end of a blind, the support bracket comprising: a) an angular bracket having a flat wall with a blind mounting element for receiving and supporting the end of the blind; b) a detachable support member mounted to the flat wall, the detachable support member configured to temporarily support the end of the blind at a position adjacent the roller blind mounting element.
 2. A support bracket as defined in claim 1 wherein the detachable support member comprises an elongated member having opposite ends, a hook portion formed on each of said opposite ends, the flat wall having a pair of apertures configured to receive the hook portions, the support member having a middle portion between the opposite ends for supporting the end of the blind.
 3. A support bracket as defined in claim 2 wherein the flat wall has two pairs of apertures configured to receive the hook portions, the pairs of apertures configured to permit the hook to be mounted so as to depend from the support bracket whether the support bracket is mounted either vertically or horizontally.
 4. A support bracket as defined in claim 2 wherein each hook portion is configured to permit the support member to be pivotally movable between a locked vertical position wherein the support member is parallel to the flat wall and cannot be readily removed from the apertures and wherein the end of the blind can be supported by the support member, and an unlocked position wherein the support member is perpendicular to the flat wall and the hook portions can be easily removed from the apertures.
 5. A support bracket as defined in claim 2 wherein each hook portion is configured as a Z shaped end.
 6. A support bracket as defined in claim 2 wherein the support member comprises an elongated metal wire and wherein each hook portion is configured as a Z shaped end.
 7. A support bracket as defined in claim 3 wherein one of the two pairs of apertures are formed on the flat wall adjacent a first side of the blind support and the other pair of apertures are formed on the flat wall adjacent an opposite second side of the blind support.
 8. A support bracket as defined in claim 2 wherein the flat wall has four apertures configured to receive the hook portions, the apertures positioned on the flat wall adjacent the blind support with the apertures being equally spaced around the blind support. 